UK Rationing

Rationing In the United Kingdom from 1939-1958

(A Shopkeeper cancels the Coupons in a British Housewife's Ration Book in 1943.)

When World War 2 started in September 1939 the UK had a population of 50 Million People.

 

The UK imported 20 Million Tons of Food per year including:

70% of its Cheese

70% of its Sugar

80% of its Fruit

70% of its Cereals

70% of its Fats.

50% of its Meat

 

The Germans knew this and waged the Battle of the Atlantic from September 3, 1939-May 8, 1945.

The goal was to destroy the supply lines from Canada (then a British Dominion) and after December 1941 from the United States to the United Kingdom and starve the British out of the War.

 

36,200 British Sailors were killed during the Battle of the Atlantic.

30,000 British Merchant Navy were killed during the Battle of the Atlantic.

3,500 Merchant Vessels were lost.

175 Warships were lost.

 

To make what Food and Supplies that did make it across the Atlantic Ocean go further the British imposed Rationing.

 

Ration System:

Every Man, Woman and Child (all 50 Million People) in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland was given a Ration Book with different Stamps for different Items (like Beef, Vegetables, Milk, Gas, Clothes, etc.)

You had to use your Mandatory Identity Card in order to get a Ration Book.

Unlike during World War 1 where a Brit could go to any Shop or Store with their Ration Book and get the amount allowed during World War 2 every Brit had to register at a certain Shop or Store and could only go to them for that Item.

It was one way to combat Ration Coupon Fraud and the Black-market.

It didn’t help if the Shop or Store that you were registered at was bombed and destroyed.

 

On top of using a Ration Coupon for the Item you also had to pay for the Item in cash.

 

Rationed Vs Not-Rationed:

The first item to be rationed during the War was Gasoline (Petrol in the UK) in September 1939.

By August 1942 all Food except Vegetables and Bread were strictly rationed.

While Beef, Chicken, Mutton, etc. was rationed Game Meat (Rabbit and Pidgeon) was not and the Meat that was rationed was by price and not by the weight.

While Bread was not rationed it was strictly controlled with the National Loaf (fortified wholemeal Bread, made from wholemeal flour with added calcium and vitamins) not allowed to be sold sliced or wrapped.

Fish was also never rationed, but it was dangerous for Fishermen to go into the Irish Sea or the English Channel since the Germans regularly targeted them.

All Alcohol was rationed except Beer.

 

The Typical British Civilian received the Following Ration every Week:

4 oz. of Bacon or Ham

8 oz. of Sugar

1s. 2d. of Meat equal to 2 chops (equal to £2.18 in 2026.)

2 oz. of Cheese

2 oz. of Butter

2 oz. of Lard

2 oz. of Tea

1 Fresh Egg (not including Powdered Eggs.)

12 oz. of Candy (Sweets) per month

1 lbs. of Marmalade every 2 months.

 

The Following Civilians Received Higher or Specialized Rations:

Vegetarians (Meat and Macon coupons must be surrendered) received more Cheese Rations.

Underground Mine Workers

Agricultural Workers

Forestry Workers

Land Drainage Workers

Members of the Auxiliary Force of the Women's Land Army

Railway Train Crews

 

A Civilian with a Medical Issue also received Higher or Specialized Rations.

Even if an item wasn’t rationed it didn’t mean it was available in your registered Shop or Store.

 

British Restaurants

From 1939-1942 Restaurants in the UK were exempt from rationing, but anger by the Public over the belief that the Rich, who could still afford to eat at Restaurants, were eating better than the Ordinary Person ended that Exemption.

In 1940, a new Restaurant called the British Restaurant was created across the United Kingdom.

They were Communal Kitchens where anyone who had been bombed out of their home, had used all of their Ration Coupons or had their Ration Books destroyed or lost during a bombing could eat.

Each Person received a 3 Course Meal sold for prices up to a set maximum of 9d. (equivalent to £2 in 2026).

If you couldn’t pay the meal was usually given to you for free.

 No one could have a meal of more than one serving of Meat, Game, Poultry, Fish, Eggs, or Cheese.

 

Clothes:

In June 1941 Rationing of Clothes, Fabric, Footwear was introduced and was based on a Points System.

Different types of Clothes were ascribed different Coupon Values, determined by how much material and labor went into each item's manufacture.

Example: An Adult Woman’s Skirt cost 6 Points.

In 1941 an Adult received 66 Points a year

In 1943 that was lowered to 43 Points a year.

In 1945 that was lowered to 24 Points a year.

 

Second-Hand Clothes didn’t require Ration Coupons and their prices were strictly regulated by the Government.

 

After World War 2 Rationing

Even after the United Kingdom helped win World War 2 in 1945 Rationing continued and in many cases worsened after the War.

Bread (which was never Rationed during the War) was Rationed from 1946-1948,

Bacon (which was Rationed to 4 oz. during the War) was cut to 3 oz. in May 1945.

Potatoes (which were never Rationed during the War) were Rationed in 1946.

 

The British Restaurants were disbanded in 1947.

Clothing Rationing ended in March 1949.

Gasoline (Petrol) Rationing ended in 1950.

Mandatory Identity Cards were abolished in the UK in 1952.

Tea Rationing ended in 1952.

Candy (Sweets) Rationing ended in February 1953.

Sugar Rationing ended in September 1953.

Egg Rationing ended in 1953.

Meat Rationing ended in July 1954.

Coal Rationing ended in July 1958.

 

Note 1: Rationing in the United States of America started on December 7, 1941 and ended in early 1946.

Note 2: Rationing the British Occupation Zone in Germany ended in 1948 which means Germans living there ate better than the British in the UK did (until 1954.)